Circle of Nine: Circle of Nine Trilogy 1 (43 page)

SHELKA

Gold coins, minted in New Baffin but used throughout Eronth.

THE SHINING

Emma’s term for her psychic ability, which includes clairvoyance and clairaudience.

SHOOTLING

A Webx in the infant stage of development.

SIBLROT

Derogatory Azephim term for young ignorant being.

SNAKE CRONE

A shaman from the snake people. The Snake Crone crosses continually between worlds, giving aid and healing where it is needed.

SNAKE TONGUE POISONING

Poison extracted from deadly vipers from the desert outside of New Baffin. A common method of sailors hunting Mermains with blowpipes.

SOLUMBI

Evil manifestation that feeds on blood and internal organs. Has its origins in negative thought patterns from all known worlds. Solumbi often attach themselves to their creators, hence the vast numbers in the Wastelands. They have evolved into expert Crossas in their lust for blood.

SO MOTE IT BE!

Witch’s saying which concludes a spell or ritual, similar to the Christian ‘Amen’.

SPITREES

Tiny spider Faery that lived in trees in Eronth. Now extinct, although there are rumours of recent sightings of Spitrees near Faia.

TONGUE OF ALL WORLDS

Common language which flows easily from the tongue with the realisation that all worlds and languages are one.

TREMITE SCRIBES

Based in New Baffin, the faithful recorders of the
Book of Life.
There are eleven Scribes in all. They are rarely seen but their words are read and interpreted and misinterpreted by the entirety of Eronth.

TURN OF THE WHEEL

The phrase ‘Turn of the Wheel’ refers to the cycle of eight Sabbats recognised in Eronth. The Sabbats are spaced at equal distances from each other, and they refer to the celebration and acknowledgment of agricultural and astonomical events. The eight Sabbats are Salhmain, Yule, Candlemas, Ostara, Belthane, Litha, Lammas and Mabon. There are many myths surrounding the Sabbats. Many Eronthites recognise the Sabbats as being a meditation on the totality of life. All that is without lies within. The Turn of the Wheel reflects our own inner cycles.

THE WASTELANDS

Home for the Azephim angels who migrated from the Web-Kondoell. Originally the Azephim attempted to settle in Moon Valley, but they were banished to the Wastelands. There are many unexplored regions of the Wastelands. The Outerezt, the outpost for aged Azephim, is located within the Wastelands.

THE WEB

Native place of the fierce Azephim angels, in the same dimension as Eronth. Otherwise referred to as the Web-Kondoell.

WEBX

Reclusive, tree-like race of beings based in Zeglanada. According to the myth of Lepso, sons and daughters blew breath into an ash and an elder tree. These two trees became the early ancestors of the Webx tree race. Webx are multi-incarnational and live simultaneous lives in parallel worlds. Webx Elders like to claim that their early ancestors came from the Dreamers’ Shell, from the salt water tipped from the Shell. This claim is disputed by the Tremite Scribes, who say the Webx crossed from the Heztarra Galaxy and that the earliest Webx ancestors migrated to other worlds. In some worlds they solidified their energy and became trees, shrubs, mountains and rocks. The original Webx Elders were 500 feet high. They decreased in size with each generation, but increased in magical powers. They are a peaceful, highly sensitive race, skilled in telepathy, root communication, rock splitting and shape-shifting. They make excellent healers due to their empathetic natures. Webx obtain their nutrients from the soil. It is possible for them to take food orally, but many have died attempting to do so.

WEZOM

Ancient Faery tribe of Eronth. One of only two pure-blood Faery tribes remaining in Eronth. Slightly more thickset in appearance than their counterparts, the Imomm; they are also more peaceful, although still widely feared in Eronth.

WILLO’WICKS

Flying mosquito-like beings that inhabit the Glade of the Almost Were. They have minute human heads attached to their bodies. They give a burning sting to their victim’s body, which, if not extracted, leaves thousands of eggs hatching flesh-eating maggots which can devour the host-victim alive in seconds.

WINGED ONES

Slang for Azephim angels.

WINSKI

Tiny Faery race. Mischievous and bordering on cruel, Winskis love to torment. They enjoy petty theft. The Winskis spend their time among the Imomm and the Wezom tribes, but a Winski remains true to himself/herself and answers to no lore but Winski lore.

XON

Ancient Faery language

ZEGERIST

Demon protective thought pattern often used by Azephim.

ZEGLANADA

Tropical island inhabited by the Webx people. The term Zeglanada is a Webx word for New Dawn.

Characters

ALECOM

Dark Lord, negative energy. Anti-witch. His power is often called upon by the Azephim and the Lightcaster.

ANO

Janusite. Chief Counsel to Mary High, Priestess of Faia.

APHRODITE

The love goddess. Erotic, beautiful and uninhibited, Aphrodite is always connected with the sea, which is an archetypal symbol of womankind. She is the essence of feminine beauty.

ARTEMIS

The goddess of magic and enchantment, protector of women. Independent and wild, Artemis lives her life surrounded by her beloved animals and nymphs. Artemis is multi-breasted, as she nourishes all forms of life.

BAMBI

Maid to Mary, High Priestess of Faia. In reality, a Sea Hag disguised by Glamour.

BLACK ANNIS

Queen of Hags. Cannibalistic, with a taste for the flesh of young children. Due to her great age she is unable to cross as freely between the worlds as she used to.

BRIGHID

The goddess of inspiration, healing and fire. A Triple goddess, also patron of smithcraft. Often seen in the form of a beautiful white swan. So popular that even the Catholic Church was unable to suppress her totally, as they did with so many other gods and goddesses, Brighid became a Christian saint.

BWANI

One of the original Wizards who abducted the Eom from the Azephim inside the Web. Bwani incurred the wrath of the goddesses and was transformed into stone and is known as one of the Blest Circle of Nine.

CHARMONZHLA

Legendary Azephim angoli. The persecution angel.

THE CHOSEN ONE

Maya. According to the
Tremite Book of Life
, the child born of the Crossa who is Bluite-Bindisore is the Chosen One. The Chosen One is believed to have legendary powers, including the power to reactivate Eom, and to be able to enter the Great Shell and influence the Dreamers.

CITTI

One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

DEMETER

The goddess who represents the fertile earth and the ripened grain of harvest. Beautiful, with hair like ripened grain.

DIOMONNA

Queen of the Imomm Faeries.

DREAMERS

Three women, sisters who lie inside the Great Shell dreaming the known worlds into existence.

EMMA DEVELLE

A Bluite Crossa, niece of Johanna Develle.

EPONA

The horse goddess. Also a fertility goddess.

ESMIR

One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

EZIHHIAM

Legendary angel of false prophets.

GELDOZ

Hybrid bull man of the Weldon race. Mary’s assistant in Faia.

GREAT MOTHER

According to Eronth mythology, the Great Mother was Lepso, the wife of the giant Amira. As Lepso, she belched forth all the suns, planets and moons, creating countless worlds. Great Mother is also slang in Eronth for the earth, for the divine feminine force within everything.

GWHYZEMONNA

Legendary angel of war and organised crime.

GWYNDION

Webx. Shootling of Tanzen and Rozen.

HADES

Dark Lord of the underground. Third brother of Demeter and abductor of Persephone.

HECATE

The goddess of the moon and of the underworld. Dwelt in the underworld beside Hades and Persephone, Hypnos, Thanatos and Morpheus. A triple goddess, she is also the goddess of purification. None dare to gaze upon the face of the Dark Mother who is Hecate.

HERMZEZA

Legendary angel, a slaughterer of the innocents. A child killer and fetus destroyer.

THE HORNED ONE

Alternative name for the Stag Man.

HYPNOS

Deity of sleep.

ISHRAN

Dark Angel Lord. Son of Seleza. Ishran is the Ghormho.

JABI

Ilkama belonging to Khartyn.

JAMIS

One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

JIG BOY — SON OF ELVEN FOOT

A Winski scribe who records the
Winski Book of Life.

JOHANNA DEVELLE

Emma’s aunt, a renowned Crossa and a children’s book illustrator.

KHARTYN

Highly respected Crone of Faia village.

KING PYSPHORRUS

Great-great-grandfather of Diomonna, Queen of the Imomm. The next Pysphorrus, ‘the first’, was Diomonna’s grandfather. Pysphorrus the Second was Diomonna’s father. Their names are used interchangeably in the world of the Imomm. Over time they have merged into one Pysphorrus in the Immon’s mind.

KORE

Alternative name for Persephone, used specifically to refer to her inherent regenerative power.

KRYSSTI

Maid to Mary, High Priestess of Faia. In reality, a Sea Hag disguised by Glamour.

MARY

High Priestess of Faia. A Crossa hailing from the Blue Planet, Mary’s true origins lie in the Heztarra Galaxy.

MAYA

The Chosen One, daughter of the Stag Man and Emma.

MORPHEUS

Deity of dreams.

NARZIEL

The blind toll-keeper who guards the border between Faia and the Wastelands.

PERSEPHONE

Queen of the Underworld, beloved daughter of Demeter and abducted wife of Hades. Also known as the Maiden or Kore.

PHOOKA

Malevolent energy that resides in the Wastelands, hibernating for the year. Walks on the night of Salhmain, creating death and destruction.

PYSPHORRUS

See King Pysphorrus.

RACHEL

Demon child. One of the Looz Drem.

RASHKA

The Glazrmhom. Ishran’s second-hatched sister.

ROSEDARK

Apprentice to Khartyn the Crone.

ROZEN

Hostling of Gwyndion. Elder and keeper of the Eom.

SAMMA

Meerwog, devoted friend to Gwyndion.

SATI

Bindisore and wife of Ishran. Khartyn’s ex-apprentice. Is the Glazrmhom egg to Emma.

SELEZA

High Priestess for the Azephim angels. Based in the Web-Kondoell. Ishran’s Hosthatch.

SHAMBZHLA

Ancient Warrior Sea Queen Hag.

STAG MAN

The Horned God. A being of great power and mystery. Primordial energy. Totally aligned with the Dreamers, the Horned God is reclusive and rarely seen. Soul mate to Emma.

TANZEN

Hostling of Gwyndion. Webx Elder and keeper of the Eom.

THANATOS

Deity of death.

Bibliography

Jean Shinola Bolen,
Goddesses in Everywoman
, New York, Harper Colophon, 1990.

Sophy Burnham,
A Book of Angels
, New York, Ballantine Books, 1990.

Andrew Collins,
From the Ashes of Angels
, London, Signet, 1966.

Janet and Stewart Farrar,
A Witches Bible
, Washington, Phoenix Publishing, 1966.

Janet and Stewart Farrar,
The Witches Goddess
, Washington, Phoenix Publishing, 1995.

J.G. Frazer,
The Golden Bough
, London, Papermac, 1987.

Robert Graves,
The White Goddess
, London, Faber, 1961.

Marina Warner,
From the Beast to the Blonde
, London, Vintage, 1995.

Marina Warner,
No Go the Bogeyman
, London, Vintage, 2000.

Jennifer Barker Woolger and Roger J. Woolger,
The Goddess Within
, London, Rider, 1990.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank: Selwa Anthony for being the literary agent of my dreams; my writing tutor, Marg McAlister, for her support and belief in me and for being a ‘star tutor’; the Simon & Schuster gang — Angelo Loukakis, Bridget Howard, and particularly the gorgeous Jody Lee for being such a tower of support and bubbly wisdom; Nick Stathopoulos for his enchanting interpretation of the words; Ian Tonkin for his enthusiasm and keen proofreader’s eye; Ian and Simon Irvine for creating the map; Rhondda Hollis, Harry, and Anthony Clow for their extraordinary skills in developing my website and also for their friendship.

I would also like to thank my parents, Ian and Barbara, for always believing in my dreams. (Yes, I still have that thesaurus, Dad! It only took me twenty years . . .) Thanks, too, to my sisters, Catherine and Gabrielle, and also Anne and George Levell for being a second family.

Thanks to all the friends, including the four-footed ones, who have shared the journey and put up with my hermit-like ways. Especially the Rieper tribe, Annie Mistler, Brownie and Alf.

Thanks to my email penpals for their generous writing advice and encouragement, especially to Kim Wilkins for her inspiration and for being such a sweetie. My gratitude also to every department store consultant who has had to listen patiently to my dreams of being a writer.

Most of all, thanks to David for all the neck rubs, the cups of ‘barely bloody drinkables’, the unofficial editing, and for always believing in
Circle of Nine.
This Scorpio gal would be lost without your Piscean wisdom and creative insights. Blessed Be, David. This tale is for you . . .

About the author

Josephine Pennicott is an award-winning writer in the crime genre. Her story ‘Birthing the Demons’ won the 2001 Scarlet Stiletto, and she has won the Kerry Greenwood Domestic Malice Prize twice, with ‘Hail Mary’ (2003) and ‘Tadpole’ (2004).

Although born in Tasmania, Josephine’s early years were spent in Papua New Guinea. She has worked in a range of jobs (including nurse, housemaid, life-drawing model and sales assistant) and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales.

Josephine lives in Sydney, Australia, with her writer partner David Levell and their daughter Daisy.